UB Art of Research 2025 recognizes the work of Kasturika Shankar
Kasturika Shankar, PhD
Congratulations to Kasturika Shankar, Postdoctoral Scholar, on being recognized by the UB Art of Research 2025 competition for data visualization produced in association with the Sarah Walker Lab.
The competition celebrates the extraordinary research of UB graduate students and postdoctoral scholars through a showcase of original images highlighting the inherent beauty in research, scholarship and creative activity. The event provides a stage for UB researchers to make their work accessible to broad public audiences. The Art of Research is on display at the Buffalo Museum of Science throughout May.
UB Art of Research 2025
Winner of the Data Visualization Category
Twisted Realities: A Cartogram of the Unequal Geography of Cervical Cancer
Kasturika Shankar
Postdoctoral Scholar
Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
The image, Twisted Realities: A Cartogram of the Unequal Geography of Cervical Cancer, visualizes the global disparity in cervical cancer incidence. This cartogram distorts a traditional world map, resizing countries based on their cervical cancer rates i.e larger shapes indicate higher incidence, while smaller ones reflect lower rates. The result highlights how this largely preventable cancer disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries, where access to screening, vaccination, and treatment is often limited.
Cervical cancer, caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains, remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in underserved regions. Contributing factors include limited healthcare infrastructure, lack of education, and minimal access to HPV vaccines and routine screenings. In contrast, high-income countries report significantly lower incidence rates due to comprehensive screening programs, widespread vaccination, and advanced treatment options.
This cartogram serves as a powerful visual representation of global health inequality, emphasizing how geography and socioeconomic factors contribute to vastly different health outcomes for women. By reshaping the map based on disease burden, the image draws attention to regions most in need of support and resources.
Through this image, I aim to raise awareness of these disparities and encourage global action to improve access to cervical cancer prevention and care. By presenting this issue in an engaging, impactful format, the goal is to inspire dialogue and drive efforts toward more equitable healthcare worldwide.